High Pressure Brings 50 mph Wind Gusts

Haleakalā summit photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

High pressure north of the state will continue to bring strong and gusty trade winds to the islands.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory, saying winds are expected to be blowing from the east at 20 to 35 mph with localized gusts over 50 mph.

The advisory will remain in effect until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Forecasters say winds this strong can bring down tree branches, cause local power outages, and make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles as they traverse bridges and overpasses.

As a precaution, the public is asked to secure any loose objects that may become airborne, or move them indoors.

High winds on Monday brought down power lines and trees in Lahaina; while strong winds over the weekend pulled several paddle boarders offshore of Papalaua.